-------- To the Contrary is not a news program and Delegate Norton is not being covered as a newsmaker or interviewed as one.
It is an opinion and editorial show and she is being given free air time to express her opinions, with my tax dollars, during an election. So I believe you are providing her with an unreported campaign donation of free air time, and what I believe to be an illegal one if the market value of that air time is worth more than the limit on campaign donations from a corporation. Not by Bonnie Erbe or the production company necessarily, but by MPT for giving her campaign free advertising during an election in the jurisdiction where she is running. But I will simply file an FEC and an FCC complaint, to begin with (I may not be alone) and we will see what happens. Beyond that I suspect I can find some lawyers who may wish to help me let a court decide. Perhaps everyone else in the government will agree with your interpretation. I am curious incidentally if Delegate Norton has helped raise money for MPT or voted for budgets for PBS and MPT. Thanks for your response. Bruce Majors, Libertarian for Congress Www.BruceMajorsDC.com On Friday, October 12, 2012, Matthew Rains <[email protected]> wrote: > Mr. Majors, > > > > Thanks very much for your note. TO THE CONTRARY is produced by Persephone Productions and is distributed by PBS nationwide. The executive producer is Cari W. Stein; the associate producer is Megan Pratz. The program is hosted by Bonnie Erbe. The show is appearing in roughly 162 of the 210 PBS markets across the US -- or in about 91.5% of the country. MPT has aired episodes of this PBS show for at least the past 16 years. > > > > You mentioned in your note that Del. Norton was being featured on TO THE CONTRARY “and other shows” but we’ve been unable to find the delegate on other programs. Could you possibly help us by identifying what the others shows are? > > > > With respect to the delegate’s appearances on TO THE CONTRARY, FCC regulations stipulate that when a political candidate appears on a bona fide news program, the equal time requirement does not apply. Nonetheless, if you wish, we can certainly relay your concerns to the producer of the series at its offices in Washington, DC. You can also post comments to the “viewers corner” section of the program’s website ( http://www.pbs.org/ttc/index.html). > > > > Please let us know if we can assist further or provide other information about this national program. Thanks once again for getting in touch with us. > > > > Best, > > > > MPT Audience Services > > 410-581-4292 > > > > Dear Madam or Sir: > > > > I see that Maryland Public Television is continuing to provide Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton with air time on Bonnie Urbe's "To the contrary" and other shows, even though we are in an election cycle. > > > > She is a panelist on these shows ( http://www.mpt.org/schedule/detail/6208/2012-10-07) not a newsmaker or politician being covered. > > > > It seems to me that this is a partisan misuse of the taxpayer funds you receive (including mine) as well as a violation of journalistic ethics and equal time provisions. > > > > Have you reported this free advertising (30 minute programs) as a campaign contribution? > > > > It seems that these appearances are worth more than $200 and should therefore be reported. > > > > There are two other candidates on the ballot running against Delegate Norton. > > > > I am one of them. > > > > Sincerely, > > > > Bruce Majors > > Libertarian for Congress > > www.BruceMajorsDC.com<http://www.brucemajorsdc.com/> > > > > > > > > > > > > </mail/u/0/s/?view=att&th=13a569bcea79a005&attid=0.1&disp=emb&zw&atsh=1> > > Matthew Rains > > Manager, Member Relations > > (410) 581-4150 > > www.mpt.org > > </mail/u/0/s/?view=att&th=13a569bcea79a005&attid=0.2&disp=emb&zw&atsh=1> </mail/u/0/s/?view=att&th=13a569bcea79a005&attid=0.3&disp=emb&zw&atsh=1> </mail/u/0/s/?view=att&th=13a569bcea79a005&attid=0.4&disp=emb&zw&atsh=1> > > > > > > > > > > > > ________________________________ > Be a more informed voter! > PBS NEWSHOUR: PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE #2 > Tuesday, Oct. 16 at 9 on MPT-HD > -- Thanks for being part of "PoliticalForum" at Google Groups. For options & help see http://groups.google.com/group/PoliticalForum * Visit our other community at http://www.PoliticalForum.com/ * It's active and moderated. Register and vote in our polls. * Read the latest breaking news, and more.
